Alarm mechanism for clocks



Oct. l, 1929. A. J. KoLLMAN 1,730,276

ALARM IEQHMISK FOR CLOCKS Filed lay 1, 1926 .mummnlnlillllllillululu uw ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. l, 1929 AUGUST J. KOLLMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ALARM MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS Application filed May 1,

An object of the present invention is to provide an alarm clock equipped with means for successively sounding a plurality of alarms. The rude awakening which is caused by the noisy bell alarms commonly employed with clocks is frequently found very disagreeable, and an object of the present invention is to provide a relatively milder type of alarm signal which will precede the audible bell alarm by a few minutes, and in the case of light sleepers will serve to awaken them without startling them.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clock is equipped with means acting successively to light a signal light and soun an audible signal. In most instances turning on the light will awaken a slee er or partially rouse him, so that the noise o the bell which follows will at least not be unexpected and startling.

many instances the light or other mild type of alarm signal will awaken the sleeper,

and he may turn olf the alarm mechanism of the clock before the bell rings.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the alarm mechanism may include means yfor turning on a radio set, or playing some musical instrument for a few moments before the bell rings, so that the sleeper will be gently awakened.

A clock embodying the invention includes the use of step by step selector mechanism acting to first render operative the relatively mild alarm in the nature of a signal light or radio set or both, and to subsequently render operative the bell alarm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel type of step by step alarm mechanism which may be conveniently associated with many conventional types of alarm clocks without making any material changes in the present construction of the clocks.

Another object of the invention is to provide alarm mechanism of this character which will be of simple, practical construction, which will be rugged, durable and elicient in use, and which may be manufactured with comparative economy.

With the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel 1926. Serial No. 106,150.

features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a view in rear elevation of a clock mechanism embodying the present invention, the rear plate or cover of the clock being removed 'for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

F Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the switch for the light alarm shifted to operative position.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan View of a slightly modified form of mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the selector mechanism.

In the drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to designate generally a clock casing within which the usual clock mechanism, as well as my improved alarm mechanism may be housed. The main winding shaft 11 of the clock is j ournalled in suitable frame plates, such for instance as the plate 12 and operates through any conventional train of gears suchl as 13 to drive the hands of the clock, and also to rotate the usual selector shaft 14 journalled in the frame plate l2.

The selector shaft 14 is adapted to be manually rotated to properly position a selector inger 16 relative to a selector disk 15.

In accordance with the conventional practice, the disc 15 is slidably mounted on the selector shaft, and is rigid with a driving gear 17. A spring finger 18 encircling the selector shaft and bearing against the disc 15 maintains the same spring pressed against the selector finger 16. In accordance with conventional practice, when the finger clears the edge of a cam notch 19 in the disc 15, the spring 18 shifts the disc 15 to a position where the finger 16 engages the bottom of the any time determined by the-.positionof the selector finger 16 on the hand setting'shaft 14. In accordance with the present invention,

I modify the conventional,selectorl by thel inter-position of a shoulder'20 vbetween the edge21ofY the disc andthe bottom of the cam groove 19. As the finger 16 drops from the surface 21 on to the shoulder' 20 vit will act'uate a supplemental alarm, mechanism which I shall later describe, andthe bell alarm will not be sounded until the finger lengages the bottom of the cam slot ata later period.

As suggested above, thela'la'rmmechanism which is actuated at the time` the finger 16 drops on to the shoulder 20,/may be in the nature of' a signallight which. will in most instances serve toV rouse thesleeper .without rudely awakening him,

Obviously numerousexpedients might be resorted' to for causing the relative movement of the selector disc and finger 16 to operate a, signal light or other type of signal, but I have shown one simple and practical form of switch n iejchanismv which veffects closing of a light circuit when thefinger'16 moves on to the shoulder 20. ,Y

As best seen in Figs. V1 to 3, a platef25 of insulating material is mounted in the clock in spaced relationship to the frame plate 12. y Plate 25 may be secured bythe use of screws or other securing devices 26 passing through spacer bocl'rs 27jintfo theframe plate 1,2. The plate 25 is formed with a circular opening 28 which acommodates the selector disc 15, and` with a longitudinally extending slot 29 v'communicating with theV opening 28.v Fulcrumed intermediate its ends on pins 30 entering the walls of the slot 29 is a lever 31 carrymgV a yoke 32 straddling the selector disc and formed with inwardly presented fingers 33 accommodated in the groove 34 between disc 15 and its driving gear 17. Thus sliding movement off the disc 1'5 on the shaft 14 will effect rocking movement of' the lever 31, and also of a rigid insulating arm 35 which is carried by and forms an extension ofthe lever.

The slot 29 inthe plate`25 opens into a V-shaped portion 36 within which are accommodated a pair of switchV arms 37' united at one end and divergingy at their other ends to straddle the arm 35 ofthe lever 31. rI`hese switch arms are adapted to contact with stationary contact plates 37 mounted1V upon the plates'25` and connected through suitable conductors 38 with a switch 39.

The arm 35 is provided at its free end with a pair of camming surfaces 46 defining a high point 41 which engages the crotch of the switch arms 37 to shift the switch arms against the action of a coiled spring 42 against which they are backed. .The switch arms 37 under the influence of their spring 42 will be inclined either in the direction of Fig. 3"'or'in the direction of Fig. 4; depending upon the. relative position of the switch arm crotch with the high point 41 of the cammin-g sur-faces 40.

In Fig. 8 the selector disc 15 is in set position Vand the arm 35 acts to retain the switch arms 37 out of engagement with their associated contacts 37%' InFig. 4 the selector finger 16is droppedV "on to the 'shoulder 20, consequently rockingthe lever 31 and moving the arm 35 to its opposite extreme position reversing the position of the switch' arms 37. 1 i

It will' be noted that in this movement from the position of Fig. 3 to the position of Fig. 4, the high point 41 of the cam surfa es 4() force the switch arms axially against action of their spring 42, and that when the crotch of the switch arm clears the high point of the surfaces 40, spring 42 will urge the switch arms forwardly and thefcam surfaces 40 will guide this forward movement and eiiect tilting of the switch arms to bring their free ends into engagement with thecontacts 37a.

The spring 42 as shown, is in the nature oi a vcoilec expansion spring in which an eX- tension 5() at the united ends of the switch arms is` poclreted. Spring 42is housed within a cylindrical housing member 51 secured to the plate 25 and' carrying a binding post 52. rlhe connection of the spring 42 and the fingersl 37 is in efiect a toggle, and movement of the toggle is controlled by the position of the high point 41 of the* cam surfaces'40.

I have shown the leads 38' from the contacts 37a as running to a switch indicated conventionally at 39', kit being understood that other leads (not shown) run from the switch 39 to a signal lamp. A third lead 53 from 'the binding postV 52 to the switch may coact with either of the leads 38 for control of a manual switch (not shown)V to open or close the lamp` circuit (not shown) independently of theaction of the switch fingers 37. j

The operation of the device will be'more or less evident from the foregoing description',` but it maybe well to briefly summarize as follows. The alarm is set in the usual manner by manually rotating the shaft'14. When the disc 15 has been rotated by the clock mechanism` to a point where the finger 16 drops on to the shoulders 20, lever 31 will be shifted from the position of Figs. 1 and 3 tothe position of Fig. 4, acting as above described to throw the switch fingers 37 from the inoperaion tive position of Fig. 8 to the circuit closing will be lighted. Upon continued movement of the selector disc 15, finger 16 will drop into the bottom of the cam notch 19 and the conventional bell alarm (not shown) will be sounded in the usual manner.

In Figs. and 6 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of invention, in which movement of the switch fingers 37 to operative lamp circuit closing position also closes a supplemental circuit which may be used to turn on a radio set. In this instance, it will be noted that the cylindrical housing for the compression spring 61 which bears against the extension 62 at the ends of the lingers 37 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on pins 63. A sliding contact member 64 mounted within the cylinder 60 is also urged outwardly by the spring 61, and when the fingers 37 are shifted to circuit closing position,

- 5 contact 64 will engage a stationary contact 65 on the plate 25.

By connecting electrical conductors 67 to binding posts 66 which are associated with the contacts 64 and 65, a supplemental alarm circuit may be closed and as suggested this circuit may be used for operating a radio set or controlling other mild audible alarm mechanism.

It will be understood that the incorporation of the sup lemental alarm circuit mechanism shown in igs. 5 and 6, will not alter either the function or the operation of the alarm mechanism shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will simpl act to simultaneously turn on a light and p ay a radio set, thereby gently awakening a sleeper in time to avoid his being startled-by the bell alarm.

Obviously, various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arl rangement of parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within 'f the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A switch including a plate, a controlling lever piVoted in the plate formed with camming surfaces at its free end, a substantially V-shaped switch member spring urged at its apex to retain its crotch against the camming end of the lever, means to swing the lever and control the position of the switch member through the action of the cam and spring, and stationary contacts engaged by the free ends ofthe switch member.

2. A switch including a plate, a controlling lever pivoted in the plate formed with camming surfaces at its free end, a substantially V-shaped switch member spring urged at its apex to retain its crotch against the camming end of the lever, means to swing the lever and control the position of the switch member through the action of the cam and spring, a tilting housing for the spring, a contact carried by the housing, and a stationary contact on the plate coacting therewith.

3. A switch mechanism including a switch controlling arm, means whereby movement of the arm through a predetermined distance closes a circuit, and arm operating mechanism comprising a rotary and axially movable multi-stepped cam associated with said arm whereby rotation of said cam effects successive rapid motions of the arm in the same direction.

4. A switch mechanism including a switch controlling arm, means whereby movement of the arm through a predetermined distance closes a circuit, and arm operating mechanism comprising a rotary and axially movable multi-stepped cam associated with said arm whereby rotation of said cam effects successive rapid motions of the arm in the same direction, and an inclined face on the cam for gradually restoring the arm to inopera- 

